Tobacco stripping machine



All@ 18, 1942. J. M. GONZALEZ 2,293,694

TOBACCO SHIPPING MACHINE TORNEYS.

UZ- 18, 1942 J. M. GONZALEZ TOBACCO SHIPPING MACHIN Filed March 21, 1940 12 sheets-sheet 2 EFE-a2 Z fz vez zoz vBY TORNEYS. l

uz- 18, 1942- J. M. GoNzALEz 2,293,604

' TOBACCO SHPPING MACHINE Fileduarch v:21, 1940 i2 sheets-sheet 3 l BY I TToRNEYs.

AU@ 18, 1942 J. M. GoNzALEz TOBACCO SHIPPING MACHINE Filed March 21. 1940 12 sheets-sheet 4 BY @W 'Al 13, 1942- J. M. GONZALEZ 2,293,604

TOBACCO SHIPPING MACHINE All@ 18 1942- J. M. GONZALEZ l 2,293,604

TOBACCO SHIPPING MACHINE Filed Malrch 21. 1940 12 Sheets-Sheet 6 KQ ||l j 5 /0 0%1 :t 45 5 3 BY Ztl,

T ORNEYS.

Aug. 18, 1942.

J. M. GONZALEZ I TOBACCO SHIPPING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1940 I /d BY 12 Sheets-Sheet 7 /MWM All@ 18, 1942- J. M. GONZALEZ 2,293,604

TOBACCO` SHIPPING MACHINE Filed March y1. 1940 12 sheets-sheet 8 Iza-.17 EJE- l5 l l l cse afu'a goza z a Ze z BY/MQQW AU8 18, 1942 J. M. GONZALEZ TOBACCO SHIPPING MACHINE Filed March 2l, 1940 l2 Sheets-Sheet l0 BY TTORNEYS.

'ug- 184, 1942. J, M, GONZALEZ- 2,293,604 I TOBACCO SHIPPING MACHINE Filed March 2l, 1940 l2 Sheets-Sheet 11 BY W TURN E YS.

Aug' 18 1942- J. M. GONZALEZ 2,293,604

TOBACCO SHIPPING MACHINE Filed March 21, 1940' 12 sheets-sheet 12 IN V EN TOR.

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Patented Aug. 18, 1942 TOBACCO STRIIPING MACHINE `lose Maria Gonzalez, Tampa, Fla., assigner, by mesne assignments, to Karl B. Cuesta and Edward W. Berriman, both of Tampa, Fla.

Application March 21, 1940, Serial No. 325,245

33 Claims.

This invention relates to a tobacco stripping machine by means of which tobacco leaves may have their stemsV entirely or partially removed and the leaves prepared' for use as fillers, binders orwrappersduring manufacture of cigars.

One object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein leaves which are to have stems trimmed or stripped therefrom are applied to a rotary drum and move with the drum during rotation thereof into engagement with cutting blades, means being provided for controlling intermittent rotation of the drum, and means also bein-g provided for actuating a valve through the medium ofr which a vacuum for holding leaves against the drum is regulated.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drum having leaf-carrying portions formed with perforated walls and communicating with a hollow shaft through which suction is created, a valve being mounted in the shaft and so actuated that a leaf will be rmly held against the drum during a partial rotation of the drum and then released for deposit upon a holder for a stack of prepared leaves.

Another object of the invention is to so mount the holder for the prepared leaves that it is shifted upwardly into position to receive a prepared leaf and then moved downwardly, thus eliminating constant pressure upon a stack of leaves and preventing the leaves from becoming bruised.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein during rotary motion of the drum a clutch will be automatically moved into and out of anl operative position and thus cause the drum to be rotated after a leaf has been applied to it and the clutch disengaged when the drum reaches a position disposing the prepared leaf over the leaf receiving tray.

Another object of the invention is to so arrange elements of the machine that suction holding the prepared' leaf against the drum will be cut off when the tray moves upwardly into position to receive a leaf and during this upward movement an abutment which halts rotation of the drum in position to deposit the prepared leaf moved to a drum releasing position, and at the same time a clutch controlling device actuated to throw in the clutch and cause rotation of the drum.

Another ooject of the invention is to provide a stripping machine wherein leaves may be so applied to the drum that the stems will be shaved or stripped in the direction of the butt end of the leaf instead cf toward the tip thereof, thus causing the stems to be so shaved or stripped that the leaves may be economically out to form fillers and waste reduced to a minimum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine by use of which small leaves may be prepared for use as llers. It will thus be seen that instead of using large leaves from which the stems are entirely removed and the halfleaves cut to form llers, small leaves may have the stems removed for a portion of the length of a leaf and fillers formed of portions of the leaf at opposite sides of and forwardly of the removed portion of the stem. It will thus be seen that purchase of large leaves for use as fillers will not be necessary and the manufacturing cost of cigars proportionately reduced.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drum so constructed that'by inserting a temporary filler in a circumferentially extending groove in the drum the depth of the portion of the stem shaved off may be regulated and the extent to which the stem is removed thus controlled.

Another object of the invention is to provide a machine wherein the drum and the suction fan are driven from a single motor mounted upon the base portion of the machine, the fan being continuously driven and rotary motion being transmitted to the drum through the medium of a transmission having a clutch associated therewith so that rotary motion will be intermittently imparted to the drum.

Another object of the invention is to provide a stripping machine which is very easy to operate, of sturdy construction, and not liable to get out of order and need repairing.

With these and numerous other objects in view, my invention consists in the novel features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter referred to and more particularly pointed out in the specification and claims.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the stripping machine,

Fig. 2 is a view looking at one side of the machine.

Fig. 3 is a view looking at the other side thereof.

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view taken transversely through the machine at the suction fan.

Fig. 5 is a view upon an enlarged scale showing the manner in which the stripping knives are mounted.

Fig. 6 is a vertical sectional view through the drum taken longitudinally of the shaft thereof.

Fig. 7 is a perspective View of the drum. l

Fig. 8 is a plan view illustrating the manner 1n which leaves are applied to the drum.

Fig. 9 is a vertical sectional View taken. longitudinally through the drum shaft upon lthe line 9-9 of Figure 10, and showing the suctioncontrolling valve in one position of adjustment.

Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken along line I-Ii of Figure 9.

Fig. 11 is a view in elevation showing the Valve adjusting means.

Fig. 12 is a View in elevation of the clutch controlling mechanism.

Fig. 13 is a fragmentary View taken along line I3-I3 of Figure 12.

Fig. 14 is a sectional View taken along line III- I4 of Figure 12.

Fig. 15 is a sectional View taken along line lli-I5 of Figure 13.

Fig. 16 is a fragmentary sectional view taken along line I6-I6 of Figure 12.

Fig. 17 is a sectional View taken vertically through the clutch and its housing along the line I'I-I'I of Figure 12.

Fig. 18 is a View similar to Figure 17 showing the housing in section and elements of the clutch in elevation.

Fig. 19 is a View illustrating the manner in which rotary motion is transmitted from the clutch to the drum shaft.

Fig. 20 is a View showing the mechanism of Figure 19 partially in top plan and partially in section.

Fig. 2l is a fragmentary View of the drum looking at the outer face of a portion of its peripheral wall.

Fig. 21a. is a sectional View taken transversely through Figure 21 upon the line 2Ia-2Ia.

Fig. 22 is a sectional View taken horizontally through the base portion of the machine and looking down upon the treadle thereof.

Fig. 23 is a sectional view taken along line 23-23 of Figure 22.

Fig. 24 is a sectional View taken along line 24-24 of Figure 23.

Fig. 25 is a View looking at a leaf-holding portion of the drum.

Fig. 26 is a fragmentary sectional viewl taken transversely through the outer wall of a leafholding portion of the drum.

Fig. 27 is a View of a tobacco leaf before being stripped.

Fig. 28 is a View showing the manner in which the stem is partially stripped from a leaf to be used as a filler.

Fig. 29 is a View showing the entire stem removed from a leaf to form two wrappers.

Fig. 30 is a similar View of a leaf prepared for use as a binder.

Fig. 31 is a sectional View upon an enlarged scale taken transversely through the leaf upon line 3I--3I of Figure 27.

Fig. 32 is a similar View taken along line 32-32 of Figure 30.

Fig. 33 is a View illustrating the manner in which stripped leaves have previously been cut to form fillers.

Fig. 34 is a View illustrating the manner in which a leaf prepared as shown in Figure 28 is cut to form fillers.

Fig. 35 is a fragmentary side elevation showing the machine equipped for preparing leaves for use as fillers and binders.

CII

Fg 36 is a top plan View of the mechanism for planing off the stems of leaves used as fillers and binders.

Fig. 37 is a sectional view taken along line 3'I-3'I of Figure 36.

Fig. 38 is a top plan view of the planing attachment before being applied to the machine- This improved stripping machine has a body which is preferably formed of heavy cast metal but may be of any material desired and has a base I from which rise side walls 2 and 3 between which extend a Vertical web 4 and a horizontal platform 4. In front of the web 4 is a large drum 5 which is of hollow formation and has circumferentially extending leaf-holding sections 6 connected by solid arms 'I and having shanks 8 which communicate with a tubular hub 9 through openings 8', so that suction may be created through the leaf-holders 6. Referring to Figure 6, it will be seen that the drum consists of companion side sections which are secured in operative engagement with each other by bolt I0 passing transversely through the arms 8 and that meeting inner side edge portions of the two sections are recessed to form a circumferentially extending groove I I in which a ring I2 formed of channeled metal is mounted to provide a stem receiving track. Side portions of the leaf-holders 6 extend diagonally as clearly shown in Figure 6 and are formed with a multiplicity of perforations I3 having enlarged outer end portions and through which air is to be drawn by suction through the hollow hub or shaft 9 to maintain leaves in fiat contacting engagement with the leaf-holders with their stems extending along the groove or track I2, as shown in Figure 8.

In order to rotatably mount the drum, there have been provided bearing housings I4 and I5, the bearing I5 being carried by an arm I6 extending forwardly from the upper end of the side wall or standard 3 of the frame or body of the machine and the bearing housing I 4 constituting the forward end of a transmission housing I 'I. This transmission housing I1 extends upwardly at an incline from the forward end of a casing I8 extending horizontally along the upper end of the side wall or standard 2, and upon referring to Figures 4, 17, 18' and 19 it will be seen that in the casing I 3 is rotatably mounted a worm I9 having a shaft 29 which projects from the rear end of the casing I8. A worm gear 2|, which is provided with a clutch facing 22, is mounted 1n the rear portion of the transmission casing Il about a shaft 23 and cooperating with this gear is a clutch member or disc 24 having a clutch facing 25 confronting the facing 22. The clutch d1sc 24 has a hub extension or sleeve 26 fitting loosely about the sleeve or hub 2'I of the gear 2|, as shown in Figures 17 and 18, and the sleeve or hub 26 carries a sprocket wheel 28 about which 1s engaged a sprocket chain 29 as shown in Figures 17 and 19. This sprocket chain 29 extends forwardly through the housing I7 as shown in Figures 19 and 20 and is engaged about a larger sprocket wheel 39 carried by the end portion of shaft 9, as shown in Figures 6 and 19, the shaft 9 being journaled in the bearing housing I 4 as shown in Figure 20 and resting upon rollers 3| which are rotatably carried by the web 3| in the bearing housing and engage the collar 32 of the shaft or hub. By this arrangement rotary motion may be transmitted from the sprocket 28 of clutch 24 to the shaft or hub 9 and the drum turned at the proper speed during operation of the stemming machine. Suction through the drum is created by means of the fan 33 shown in Figure 4 and mounted in a fan housing 34 which is secured against the web 4 at the front end of the side Wall or standard2 as shown in Figure 2 and formed with an inlet about which is secured the lower end of a conduit 35. This conduit extends upwardly with its upper end portion curved forwardly as shown in Figure 2 and secured against the outer side face of the housing I4 in position to register with the adjacent end of the shaft 9, a gasket 36 being interposed between the conduit and the side face of the housing to prevent leakage. The fan 33 is carried by one end portion of the shaft 31 of an electric motor 38 mounted at one side of the base or frame of the machine and supported by a post 39, the post being removably held in place by a bolt 40 in order that the post may be removed when dismounting of the motor for repairs or replacement is necessary. At its rear end the motor shaft 31 carries pulleys 4| and 42, which may be a single pulley of double formation, if so desired, and about the pulley 4| is engage-d a belt 43 which extends upwardly and has its upper portion engaged about a pulley 44 carried by shaft 20. It will thus be seen that the motor 38 constitutes a power unit for the shaft 29 as well as for the fan, and the fan and the shaft 29 will be continuously driven when the machine is in operation.

It is only desired to have suction through one of the leaf-holders 6 at a time and in order to control suction through the leaf-holders there has been provided a valve 45 which is mounted in the hub or shaft 9 and has a stem 45 extending longitudinally in the hub, as shown in Figures 6, 9 and 10. Referring to these figures, and particularly to Figures 9 and l0, it will be seen that the stem 45 has its outer end carried by rocker arm or lever 41 which is pivotally mounted by a pin 48 carried by ears 49 which project outwardly from a plug 59 serving as a closure for one end of the hub or shaft 9. The rocker arm or lever 41 has outwardly projecting fingers 5| carrying a pin 52 by means of which dogs 53 are pivotally mounted, and in order to yieldably hold the dogs in an operative position, there has been provided a spring 54 extending between and secured at its en-ds to pins 55 projected inwardly from the dogs. Recesses or notches 55 defining shoulders 51 are formed in inner side edge portions of the dogs near the free ends thereof to receive edge portions of an adjacent end of the hub 9 and it will be readily understood that, as long as one of the dogs has engagement with the hub, the valve will be maintained in one of its positions of adjustment where it will close one of the openings 8 and prevent suction through the leaf-holder with which the covered or blocked opening 8 communicates. During operation of the machine the drum has intermittent rotary motion imparted to it and makes a half turn each time it rotates, turning of the drum being controlled by abutment fingers 58 projecting from one side of the drum and each located midway the length of one of the leaf-holders. It should also be noted that rotation of the drum is brought to a stop with one of the leaf-holders in an upper position and the other in a lower position. Therefore, when the drum is brought to a stop with the valve extending upwardly in closing relation to the opening 8 of the upper leaf-holder and the upper dog 53 is moved out of engagement with the edge of the hub 9, the weight of the valve will cause it to drop to the lowered position for closing the opening 8 of the lower leaf-holder and the spring will draw the lower dog into latching engagement with the edge of the hub. The valve will then be held in this position until th'e drum has made another one-half revolution and the dog holding the valve in its position of adjustment is moved to a releasing position. Movement of a dog to a releasing position is accomplished by means of a bell crank lever 59 which is pivoted to the arm I6 by a bolt or screw 60 as shown in Figures 3 and 11, and has its arms 6I and 92 extending longitudinally of the arm I6. The arm 6| of the bell crank lever extends along the bearing housing l5 over the protruding end of the hub 9 and the arm 62 terminates in a depending nger 63 having a cammed surface 64 and from an inspection of Figures 9 and 11, it will be readily seen that when the cam surface 64 is acted upon to apply inward pressure to the finger 63 the bell crank lever will be swung about its pivot pin 5B to swing its arm 6| outwardly and cause the uppermost dog 53 to be shifted outwardly and disengaged from latching engagement with the edge of the hub 9, thus permitting the weight of the valve to carry the valve downwardly into closing relation to the opening 8 of the lower leaf-holder and permit the spring 54 to draw the lower dogs inwardly into its operative position in which it has latching engagement with the hub and prevents the valve from moving out of the adjusted position until the dog in the operative position is shifted to a releasing position by operation of the bell crank lever. The portion of the hub or shaft 9 passing through the bearing housing l5 also carries a ring or collar 65 shown in Figures 6, 9 and 10 corresponding to the ring or collar 32 and resting upon rollers 66 corresponding to rollers 3| and rotatably mounted at one side of the web 61 formed within the bearing housing.

In order to actuate the bell crank lever 59 there has been provided a bar 68 which is disposed vertically as shown in Figure 3 with its upper portion extending across the outer face of arm I6 and yformed with a longitudinally extending slot 69 through which passes a pin or bolt 10 carrying a roller 1I so that the bar may slide easily when shifted vertically. The upper end of this bar normally terminates a short distance below the finger 63 of the latch releasing lever 59 and has its inner face formed with a beveled surface 12 for engaging the beveled surface 64 of the finger 63 and setting up a cam action which will move the lever 59 to a latch releasing position when the bar is shifted upwardly. The bar 68 carries a depending arm or finger 13 at its upper end which is connected with the lever 14 of a conventional counter 15 by a spring 1E, and each time the bar is shifted vertically and then allowed to return to `its lowered position, the counter will be operated. Therefore, the number of leaves stripped may be kept track of. The lower end of the bar E8 is pivoted to a side arm 11 shown in Figures 1 and 22 and extending laterally from a lever 18 which extends longitudinally of the base of the frame and at its rear end is formed with forks 19 terminating in bearings 80 which loosely engage about a pivot rod 8| carried by ears 82 which project inwardly from the short rear wall 83 of the base. A shorter arm 84 extends from the same side of the lever 18 as the arm 11 and this arm 84 is faced rearwardly from arm 11 and carries a roller 85 which rests upon an arm or finger 8S extending rearwardly from one end of the hanger bar 81 of a treadle 88. This hanger bar 81 has upstanding ears 89 which engage about a pivot pin or rod 90 carried by ears 9| depending from the platform 5 at the front end thereof, and from an inspection of Figures 22 and 23, it will be readily seen that when downward pressure is applied to the foot piece 92 of the treadle 88, the arm or nger 35 of this treadle will cause the lever 18 to be swung upwardly and the bar G8 will be carried upwardly with it, since the lower end of the bar 53 is pivoted to the side arm 11 of the lever 18. A spring Q3 shown in Figure 1 has its lower end anchored to a lug 94 extending inwardly from the lower end of the bar 68 near the lower end thereof and the upper end of the spring is anchored to a hook 915 suspended from the inner end of the bolt 15 carried by and passing through the arm l5. The spring exerts upward pull and assists in moving the bar G8 upwardly during upward swinging movement of the lever 13. When the operators foot is removed from the treadle the weight of the lever 18 and associated parts returns the pedal and the bar to the raised position. The leaves which are to be stripped are placed in a pile or stack in the trough 95 shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4 and carried by a bracket 95a which extends upwardly from the web 4, there being also provided a supporting bracket 95h secured against the outer side face of the bearing housing l5. A yoke 96 having downwardly extending arms 91 is removably secured to the side arm 38 of the bracket 94 as shown in Figure 4 and at lower ends of the arms 91 are provided bearings 99 shown in Figure 3 through whichV are threaded bushings |50 as shown in Figure 5. Stems itl pass through the bushings and at their inner ends carry Ycircular cutting blades |92 which converge, as shown in Figure 5, and fit into the track I2 near the side walls thereof so that as the drum rotates with the stem of a tobacco leaf extending along the groove or track, the rotating blades will cut through the leaf along sides of the stem and thus strip the stem from a leaf. By adjusting the bushings the blades may be shifted toward or away from each other and thus properly spaced so that their sharpened edges will engage properly in the tracks. By removing the winged nut |03 the yoke 96 may be withdrawn from the threaded supporting stem or post IM and put away when use of the circular knives is not desired. A narrow strip |95 of resilient metal is disposed vertically against the web 4 as shown in Figures 3 and 4 and secured thereto by a fastener |95. This strip has its upper end portion curved longitudinally and projecting over the upper end of the web 4 for engagement in the track to dislodge the stems therefrom and cause these stems to drop downwardly onto the platform 5 after they have been cut from the tobacco leaves.

In order to receive the stripped leaves there has been provided a tray or pan |51 disposed under the drum and mounted upon the upper end of a bar |08 which constitutes a shank for the trough and has its edge faces grooved as shown at |09 in Figures 1 and 3 so thatit may be slidably mounted between rollers |63 rotatably mounted at one side of a supporting bar which projects forwarcy from the web 4. The lower end of the bar or shank HB5 rests upon a roller ||2 at the front end of lever 18 and it will be readily understood that when the treadle 88 is depressed and the lever 18 swung upwardly, the shank |08 and the tray or pan lill carried thereby will be moved upwardly toward the drum. A support 3 is provided at oneV side of the front of the machine for the foot by means of which the pedal is operated. Engagement of the outer end of the arm 11 with the pedal 88 which it overlaps, as shown in Figure 1, limits downward movement of the lever 18, and in order to absorb shocks and eliminate undesired noise during operation of the machine, there has been provided a rubber pad ||4 carried by the treadle in position for engagement by the lever arm as shown in Figures 1 and 22. In View of the fact that upward movement is imparted to the shank |33 through the medium of the treadle 83 acting upon lever 18, the tray will be shifted upwardly in proper timed relation to actuation of the valve 45 and rotation of the drum to move a leaf carrier from an uppermost position to a lowered position where a stripped leaf will be released and deposited upon the tray or upon a stack of stripped leaves resting upon the tray.

In order to actua-te the clutch 24 and effect shifting thereof into and out of clutching er1- gagement with the facing 22 of the worm gear 2|, there has been provided a rocker arm or lever t5 which is pivotally mounted at the outer side of the transmission housing I1 as shown in Figures 2, 12, 17 and 18 by a pivot bar or rod ||6 carried by bracket ||1 and passing through ears H8 carried by the cross-head H9 of this lever. An arm |2|3 extends rearwardly from the crosshead H9 and terminates in a cup |2| shown in Figure 16 and in which is mounted a spring |22, the tension of which is regulated by a plug |23 screwed into the cup. The spring serves to rock the lever l I5 about the rod ES and urge the lever toward the transmission housing so that a stem or pin |25d which is threaded through an opening in the lever as shown in Figures 12, 11 and 18 will be forced inwardly with the lever and apply pressure to the cap |25 at the outer end of the hub or sleeve 25 and hold the clutch disc 24 in frictional gripping engagement with the clutch surface of the gear 2|. A handle |25 for turning the stem |24 and adjusting the Stem through the lever is carried by the outer end portion of the stem and in order that the stem may be secured in an adjusted position, there has been provided a lock nut |21 threaded upon the stem and provided with an actuating handle |28. It will thus be seen that wear upon the facings 22 and 25 can be compensated for. The forward portion of lever H5 extends downwardly to provide a depending arm. |29 shown in Figures 12, 14 and 15. This arm terminates in a yoke |30 having upper and lower arms |31 and |32 carrying a pin |33 which passes through the forks |35 of a stop member |35. rIhis stop member projects forwardly from the yoke |39 and at its front end is formed with an inwardly extending lug or finger |36 constituting an abutment for engagement by the stops or fingers 58 carried by the drum. A roller |31 is rotatably mounted horizontally over the stop member |35 for engagement by the fingers 58 and under the stop member is disposed a roller |38 rotatably mounted by a pin |39 carried by the depending ears |49. A keeper |4| having a side arm or nger l5 for engaging the stop member |35 as Shown in Figure 13 extends longitudinally of the stop member at one side thereof and at its inner end is formed with forks |42 pivotally mounted by a pin |53 extending through the yoke and carrying faces |44. The outer fork |52 is extended t0 form a weight |45 by means of which the keeper is yieldably held in its normal position with the finger IM engaging between the stop member |35 and the roller |38 to prevent outward swinging movement of the stop member relative to the side arm of the lever ||5 beyond the position shown in Figure 13. An abutment |46 carried by the upper arm ISI of the yoke limits inward swinging movement of the stop member and an abutment arm |41 which extends upwardly from the inner end of the keeper limits upward movement thereof under influence of the weight |45. At its outer end the keeper is formed with an arm, or finger IS which projects outwardly therefrom as shown in Figures 12 and 13 for engagement by the bill |29 of a hook |55 shown in Figure 2, the hook being pivoted in a vertical position to a bracket |5| extending outwardly from one side f the pan |01. This hook is yieldably held in the normal position shown in Figure 2 by by a weight |52 and swinging movement of the hook under influence of the weight |52 is limited by the abutment |53.

During use of this machine to remove stems from tobacco leaves, the leaves to be stripped are placed in a pile in the trough or basket 95. At this time no suction is taking place through the upper leaf-holder and when a leaf is removed from the pile of leaves in the trough or basket and placed upon the upper leaf-holder, it may be freely shifted about and centered upon the leafholder as shown at |50 in Figure 8, with the tip of the leaf extending rearwardly and the stem thereof extending alongr the groove or track l2 and fitting within this track. Since the leaf has its tip presented rearwardly, cutting will take place in a direction towards the butt end of the leaf when the drum is rotated. After the leaf has been applied to the upper leaf-holder, the operator cf the machine places his foot upon the treadle and applies pressure thereto to shift the bar 68 upwardly and actuate the latch-releasing lever 59 to move the upper latch or dog to a releasing position and allow the valve to swing downwardly by gravity into closing relation to the opening 8 of the lower leaf-holder. Suction will then take place through the upper leaf-holder to firmly hold the leaf in engagement therewith and if a leaf has been adhering to the lower leaf-holder, cutting off of such through this lower leaf-holder will release the leaf and allow it to drop down upon the pan or tray |01, or onto a stack of prepared leaves resting upon this tray which has been moved to its raised position by lever 18 when the operator steps upon the treadle. The operator then removes his foot from the treadle and as the arm 88 and the tra`y |01 move downwardly the hook I 50 carried by the tray will engage the finger |58 of the keeper IM and tilt this keeper downwardly to move its arm |4| out of its normal position over the roller I 38 in which it has latching engagement with the stop member |85 and prevents the stop member |85 from moving outwardly independent of lever H5. The stop member |35 will then be free to swing cutwardly over the arm |l| relative to the arm |3| of lever ||5 and the lever ||5 may be urged inwardly about its pivot ||6 by the spring |22. During inward movement of the lever ||5 the stem |24 will force the clutch member 28 toward the gear 2| for frictional binding engagement therewith and the clutch member will be turned with the gear and rotary motion transmitted to the shaft 9 of the drum` by the Sprocket chain 29. It will thus be seen that the drum will be rotated to move the leaf-carrier holding a leaf rearwardly and downwardly and during this rotary movement of the drum the circular knives l 02 will cut through the leaf longitudinally thereof at opposite sides of the stem, the stem being dislodged from the track or groove I2 by the stem or finger |05. The fact that the keeper |4| is pivotally mounted allows it to slip out of engagement with the hook after the stop member |35 has been released. The weight |45 then returns the keeper to its operative position. The fact that the arm of finger |4| is tilted and released from the hook |50 after the keeper has moved to a releasing position and the drum started rotation allows the keeper to be returned to its normal position by the weight |45 and again engage the stop member to hold the stop member in its set position. As the leaf-holder carrying a leaf approaches a position at the bottom of the drum, the finger 58 projecting from a side of this holder will first engage the roller E31 and apply outward force to swing the stop member |35 and the lever I I5 outwardly as a unit to open the clutch, the finger 58 then engaging the abutment finger |35 to stop rotation of the drum. It will thus be seen that the drum may not continue rotation for more than a half turn. Another leaf will now be removed from the pile of leaves and placed upon the upper leaf holder and the treadle depressed to raise the bar and adjust the valve to cause suction to take place through the upper leaf-holder to hold the newly applied leaf thereon while cutting off suction through the lower leaf-holder to release the prepared leaf and allows it to drop down upon a stack prepared of prepared leaves resting upon the tray |01. Pressure upon the treadle is then removed in order to shift the tray |01 and the bar 6B downwardly and allow the hook |50 to move the keeper IllI out of binding engagement with the stop member |35 so that the spring |22 may move the lever |I5 independently of the stop member and engage the clutch to cause the drum to be turned by rotary motion transmitted to it from the clutch which at this time is moved into gripping engagement with the worm gear.

In addition to stripping the entire stem from a leaf and dividing the leaf into side sections or halves |55 for use as wrappers, it is also desired to permit leaves to have the stem |58 partially removed as shown in Figure 28 for use as a filler |51 or merely plane off the protruding portion of the stem as shown in Figures 3l and 32 so that the leaf may be formed into a binder |58 as shown in Figure 30. In order that the leaves may be prepared as shown in Figures 28 and 30, the attachment shown in Figures 35 through 38 is applied to the machine. This attachment has v sleeves |58 and |50 between which extends a web |6I. The sleeve |50fits about a rod or shaft I 62 carried by bearing brackets I 63 extending upwardly from the sleeve E8 and the sleeve |59 constitutes an elongated bearing for a shaft |64 which has one end portion equipped with a pulley |55 so that rotary motion may be transmitted to this shaft by a belt ISS trained about the pulley 62 carried by the motor shaft 31. At its other end the shaft |64vcarries a circular cutting blade |58 which hs been shown wih a smooth edge. A guard |50 is provided for the blade |88 in order to eliminate danger of the operator being accidentally cut by the blade, the guard being mounted in shielding relation to the blade by an arm |10 which is bolted to the web |6l. The blade |58 extends across the periphery of the drum and the web carries a set screw |1| which is threaded through a bore |12 with its lower end resting upon a side arm |13 carried by the sleeve I8. By adjusting the set screw the web and the sleeve |59 may be swung vertically to adjust the blades across the horizontal diameter of the drum. It will thus be seen that the blades may be disposed Very close to the periphery of the drum or shifted away from the same. When this attachment is in use, the yoke 9'5 carrying the cutting blades |02 is removed as it is not desired to have the leaf cut through at opposite sides of the stem for the full length of the leaf. The leaves are applied in the same manner previously described and as the drum is turned the stem will move into engagement with the sharp edge of the blade 68. Engagement of the blade with the stem causes the rotating blade to have a planing action and shave off the stem to such an extent that it will be flush with the portions of the leaf at opposite sides of the stem. If it is found that the blade is cutting too deep or not deep enough, it is merely necessary to adjust the set screw |1| and the blade will be moved into position to plane off the stem to the proper depth. A leaf so prepared may be used as a binder and it will thus be seen that a small leaf having its stem planed off may be used as a binder instead of it being necessary to use half of a large leaf in order to obtain the proper width. When the leaves are to be used for forming llers backing strips which are somewhat thicker will be substituted in place of the backing strips previously used. The thicker backing strips are somewhat shorter and will only extend from the butt end of a leaf to a point in spaced relation to the tip thereof. Therefore, when the leaves are applied on the blade properly set, the thick portion of a stem may be removed from a leaf as shown in Figure 28 and the finer portion of the stem left in the tip portion of the leaf. It has previously been customary to use large leaves for forming fillers, these leaves having the entire stem removed therefrom, as shown in Figure 33, and then cutting the two halves or sections: |14 of a leaf along the lines |15 to form fillers |16 of the intermediate portions of the two half leaves, the end portions |11 and |18 being waste as these portions of the half leaves are not large enough for use as fillers. When a leaf is prepared as shown in Figures 28 and 34, only a very small portion of the leaf is wasted, as this leaf may be cut along the lines |19 to form fillers |80 and a forward ller |8|, the filler |8| being formed of the forward or tip portion of the leaf from which the fine portion of the stem has not been removed. Only the small pieces |82 and m3 at the butt and tip ends of this leaf will be waste. Therefore, the leaf may be divided to form three fillers and only a very small amount of waste instead of being divided to form two fillers and a great deal of waste.

I claim:

1. In a tobacco Stemming machine, a loading station, a discharge station, leaf carriers movable between said stations, a cutter between said stations for operating upon a leaf carried by a carrier moving from the loading station toward the discharge station, means for driving said carriers including clutch means for intermittently effecting movement of the carriers between the stations, means for creating suction through said carriers to hold leaves in place thereon, valve means for controlling suction through said carriers, means for actuating the valve and the clutch to obtain suction through a carrier at the loading station and shut off suction through a carrier at the discharge station and thereafter cause closing of the clutch to impart movement to the carriers, and means for halting movement of the carriers at the said stations constructed and arranged to move the clutch means to an open position as the carriers approach the said stations.

2.'. In a tobacco stemming machine, a loading station, a discharge station, leaf carriers movable between said stations, a cutter for operating upon a leaf carried by a carrier moving toward the discharge station, means for driving said carriers including clutch means for intermittently effecting movement of the carriers, means for creating suction through said carriers to hold leaves thereon, valve means for controlling suction through said carriers, and actuating mechanism including means for adjusting said valve means to cut off suction through a carrier at the discharge station and allow suction through a carrier at the loading station, means to thereafter effect closing of the clutch and cause movement to be imparted to the carriers, and means associated with the last mentioned means to effect opening of the clutch and halt motion of the carriers as a carrier reaches the discharge station.

3. In a tobacco stemming machine, a loading station, a discharge station, leaf carriers movable between said stations, means for removing a stem from a leaf during movement of a carrier toward the discharge station, driving means for said carriers including a clutch normally in a closed position, a stop engageable byla carrier approaching the discharge station, a support for said stop constituting means for effecting opening of the clutch when engaged by the carrier, a keeper carried by said support and movable into and out of position for releasably holding said stop inV an operative position, and means for moving said keeper to a releasing position.

4. In a tobacco stemming machine, a loading station, a discharge station, leaf carriers movable between said stations, a cutter for operating upon a leaf carried by a carrier moving toward the discharge station, driving means for said carriers including a clutch urged toward a closed position, a stop for halting movement of said carriers engageable by a portion of a carrier approaching the discharge station and constituting means for effecting opening of the clutch when engaged by the carrier, a keeper for releasably holding said stop in an operative position, a tray movable into and out of position to receive a leaf from a carrier at the discharge station, and means for moving said keeper to a releasing position as the tray moves away from the carrier at the discharge station.

5. In a tobacco stemming machine, a loading station, a discharge station, leaf carriers movable between said stations, a cutter for operating upon a leaf carried by a carrier moving toward the discharge station, driving means for said carriers including a clutch urged toward a closed position, a stop for halting movement of said carriers engageable by a portion of a carrier approaching the discharge station and constituting means for effecting opening of the clutch when engaged by the carrier, a keeper for releasably holding said stop in an operative position, a tray movable into and out of position to receive a leaf from a carrier at the discharge station, means for creating suction through said carriers, valve means for controlling suction through the carriers including a latch for holding the valve in an adjusted position, means for adjusting said valve as said tray moves toward a carrier at the discharge station, and means for moving said keeper to a releasing position as the tray moves away from the carrier at the discharge station.

6. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotatable leaf holder having leaf carriers movable therewith between a loading station and a discharge station, means for removing stems from leaves as the carriers move toward the discharge station, means for creating suction through the holder, a valve for controlling suction through said carriers, means for rotating the leaf holder including a clutch, a tray movable from a lowered position to a raised position for receiving a leaf at the discharge station, means actuated during upward movement of said tray to adjust said valve and cause suction through a carrier at the loading station while cutting olf suction g through a carrier at the discharge station, and

means actuated during downward movement of said tray to close the clutch and impart movement to the leaf holder subsequent to adjustment of the valve.

7. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotatable leaf holder having leaf carriers movable therewith between a loading station and a discharge station, a cutter for operating upon leaves as the carriers move toward the discharge station, means for rotating said leaf holder including a clutch, means for creating suction through the leaf holder and its carriers, a valve for controlling suction through the leaf carriers, a clutch actuating lever yieldably held in position to close the clutch, a stop carried by said lever and movable into and out of position to halt turning of the leaf holder with a leaf carrier at the discharge station and another at the loading station, a keeper carried by said lever for holdingv said stop in position for engagement by the leaf holder to effect movement of the lever for opening the clutch as a carrier approaches the discharge station, and means movable in one direction to adjust said valve having mechanism associated with it to move said keeper to a releasing position and effect closing of the clutch and movement of the stop out of an operative position as the said means returns to its normal position.

8. In a tobacco stemming machine, a loading station, a discharge station, a rotatable leaf holder having leaf carriers spaced from each other circumferentially thereof and moving between the stations during rotation of the leaf holder, a cutter between said stations for operating upon leaves as the carriers move from the loading station toward the discharge station, means for rotating said leaf holder including a clutch, means for creating suction through the leaf holder and its carriers, a valve for controlling suction through the leaf carriers, means for adjusting the valve to establish suction through a carrier at the loading station and shut off suction through a carrier at the discharge station, and means for effecting opening and closing of said clutch having means associated therewith for engagement by a portion of the leaf holder to open the clutch as the carriers opproach said stations and halt movement of the leaf holder with the carriers located at the stations.

9. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotatable leaf holder having leaf carriers movable therewith between a loading station and a discharge station, a cutter for operating upon leaves as the carriers move toward the discharge station, means for creating suction through the holder and the carriers, a valve for controlling suction through said carriers, means for rotating said holder including a clutch, a treadle, means actuated during movement of said treadle in one direction to adjust said valve and cause suction through a carrier at the loading station while cutting off suction through a carrier at the discharge station, means actuated during movement of the treadle in an opposite direction to effect closing of the clutch and rotation of the leaf holder, and means for halting rotation of said leaf holder adapted to effect opening of the clutch when engaged by a leaf carrier approaching the discharge station.

10. In a tobacco stemming machine, a movable leaf holder, a cutter for operating upon a leaf during movement of the leaf holder, driving means for said leaf holder including a clutch movable into and out of an operative position, an actuating member for said clutch, a stop carried by said actuating member and movable relative thereto into and out of position for engagement by said leaf holder to halt movement of the leaf holder in a predetermined position and effect movement of the clutch to an inoperative position, a keeper carried by the actuating member for releasably holding said stop in an operative position, and means for moving said keeper to a releasing position.

11. In a tobacco stemming machine, a movable leaf holder, a cutter for operating upon a leaf during movement of the leaf holder, driving means for said leaf holder including a clutch movable into and out of an operative position, pivotally mounted means for actuating said clutch having a stop pivotally carried thereby for movement into and out of position for halting movement of said leaf holder and imparting movement to the a-ctuating means for effecting opening of the clutch when the stop is engaged by the leaf holder, a keeper for releasably holding said stop in an operative position, and means movable into and out of position for engagement with the keeper to move said keeper to a releasing position.

12. In a tobacco stemming machine, a movable leaf holder, a cutter for operating upon a leaf during movement of the leaf holder, driving means for said leaf holder including a clutch movable into and out of an operative position, means for actuating said clutch pivotally mounted and including a pivoted stop movable into and out of position for engagement by said leaf holder to halt movement of the leaf holder in a predetermined position and simultaneously tilt the actuating means to move the clutch to an inoperative position, a keeper carried by the actuating means and yieldably held in position to engage said stop and hold the stop in an operative position, and means for moving said keeper to a releasing position.

13. In a tobacco stemming machine, a movable leaf holder, a cutter, means for creating suction through the leaf holder to retain a leaf in engagement therewith, a valve for controlling suction through the leaf holder movable by gravity to adjusted positions, a latch for releasably holding the valve in an adjusted position, driving means for the leaf holder including a clutch normally closed, actuating means for said clutch including a stop for halting movement of the leaf holder and holding the clutch open, a keeper for releasably holding said stop in an operative position, means for moving said keeper to a, releasing position having an operating member, and means associated with the operating member for actuating the latch and permitting movement of the valve to a position to cut off suction through the leaf holder and thereby release a leaf carried by the leaf holder when the last mentioned means is operated to move said keeper to a releasing position.

14. In a tobacco stemming machine, a cutter, a hollow movable leaf holder having a chamber and a plurality of leaf carriers communicating therewith, means for creating suction through the chamber of the leaf holder and the carriers, a single valve for controlling connection between the chamber and the leaf carriers, a latch for releasably securing said valve in position to cut oif suction through one leaf carrier and permit suction through the other leaf carrier, driving means for said leaf holder including a clutch normally closed, means for halting movement of said leaf holder with a carrier in a predetermined position and simultaneously moving the clutch to an opened position, and means for actuating the last mentioned means to release the leaf holder and close the clutch, and means associated with the last mentioned means for releasing the latch and permitting movement of the valve to a reversed position.

15. In a tobacco stemming machine, a movable leaf holder having leaf carriers movable therewith from a leaf receiving station to a leaf discharging station, means for creating suction through said carriers to hold/leaves in engagement therewith, a valve for controlling suction through said carriers, a latch for releasably securing the valve out of blocking relation to a carrier while the carrier is moving from the receiving station to the discharging station, driving means for said leaf holder including a clutch normally closed, means actuated by said leaf holder for opening said clutch constituting means for halting movement of the leaf holder with one leaf carrier at the receiving station and another at the discharge station, means for actuating the last mentioned means to release the leaf holder and effect closing of the clutch to impart movement to the leaf holder, means actuated from the last mentioned means for effecting adjustment of the valve to shut off suction through a carrier at the discharge station and creating suction through the carrier moving to- Ward the discharge station, and a cutter for operating upon a leaf during travel thereof toward the discharge station.

16. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotatable leaf holder having leaf carriers spaced from each other circumferentially thereof and movable with the holder from an upper loading station to a lower discharge station, a cutter for operating upon leaves traveling toward the discharge station, a tray at the discharge station shiftable vertically from a lowered position to a raised position adjacent the leaf holder, means for creating suction through the leaf holder and its leaf carriers, a valve for controlling suction through the leaf carriers, means for rotating said leaf holder including a clutch normally closed, a stop for interrupting rotation ofthe leaf holder constituting means for effecting opening of said clutch as a leaf carrier moves into position over said tray at the discharge station and another leaf carrier moves into place at the loading station, a keeper for releasably holding said stop in position for engagement by a portion of the leaf holder, means f'or shifting said tray upwardly including an operating treadle,

means actuated from said treadle during upward movement of said tray for adjusting said valve to cut off suction through a leaf` carrier at the discharge station and cause suction through the leaf carrier at the loading station, and means operating during downward movement of the tray to move said keeper to a releasing position allowing closing of the clutch and movement of the tray to a position temporarily allowing turning of the leaf holder.

1'7. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotatable drum having leaf carriers spaced from each other circumferentially thereof and moving with the drum from an upper loading station to a lower discharge station, a cutter for operating upon leaves carried by carriers traveling toward the discharge station, a tray movable toward and away from a leaf receiving position under a carrier at the discharge station, means for creating suction through said carriers, a valve for controlling suction through the carriers, driving means for said drum including a clutch yieldably held closed, means for shifting said tray toward its leaf receiving position, means actuated during such movement of the tray for adjusting said valve to shut off suction through a carrier at the discharge station and establish suction through a carrier at the loading station, means for effecting opening of said clutch having a stop associated therewith for halting rotation of the drum with a leaf carrier at the discharge station, the drum when engaging the stop imparting unitary movement thereto to effect opening of the clutch, and means for releasably holding said stop in an operative position adapted to be moved to a releasing position as said tray returns to its normal position and allow closing of the clutch to cause rotation of the drum.

18. In a tobacco stemming machine, a rotatable drum having leaf carriers about its periphery moving therewith from a loading station to a discharge station and back to the loading station during rotation of the drum, a cutter for operating upon leaves traveling toward the discharge station during rotation of the drum, means for intermittently rotating said drum including a clutch movable into and out of an operative position and an actuating lever therefore, a stop for halting movement of said drum pivotally carried by said lever and constituting means movable transversely of the lever into and outl of position for moving the lever in a direction to effect opening of the clutch when the stop is engaged by the drum to halt rotation of the drum with a leaf carrier at the discharge station and another at the loading station, a keeper pivotally carried by said lever and movable into and out of position for engaging the outer side face of the stop and releasably holding said stop in an operative position, and manually actuated means for moving said keeper to a releasing position and permitting closing of the clutch and turning of the drum.

19. In a tobacco stemming machine, a movable leaf holder having leaf carriers moving therewith from an upper loading station to a lower discharge station, a cutter for operating upon leaves carried by carriers traveling toward the discharge station, a tray shiftable vertically from a lowered position to a raised position under a leaf carrier at the discharge station, means for creating suction through the leaf carriers, valve means for controlling suction through said leaf carriers, a latch forholding said valve means in an adjusted position, means for driving said leaf holder including a clutch yieldably held closed, 

